07 Mar 2013

Certain traditional beliefs associated with the cause of disability in Okavango area, have resulted in children and mothers being shunned and isolated.

Briefing the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Dr Gloria Somolekae in Gumare recently, the rehabilitation officer for Okavango Sub-district Council, Ms Pinkie Mothibedi said people with disabilities in the area were facing many challenges.

Ms Mothibedi said negative cultural practices, traditional beliefs and relying on traditional healers competed with natural scientific approaches to disability.

She said many people with disabilities in the area were among the poorest and most marginalised, citing as an example a situation where a child born with disabilities, would often be seen as a tragic event by his/her family and the community as well.

She said people with disabilities found it difficult to access services due to discrimination, social and barriers such as attitude, communication and mobility to an extent that some were hindered to participate or engage in community activities.

She said there were many challenges that prevented people with disabilities from participating in livelihoods and poverty eradication programmes, because at the beginning of the planning sessions, people with disabilities were left behind.

In her response, Dr Somolekae suggested organising a poverty and disability pitso to address some of the issues, adding that the pitso would be a platform where parents and guardians living with people with disabilities would exchange their views. ENDS